Villa's single goal success over Hull on Monday - their first win in 13 league and cup games - means they are assured of participating in the revamped Europa League next season.

But O'Neill is not resting on his laurels and wants Villa to improve on last season's final position of sixth and also to surpass their 2008-2009 tally of 60 points.

The former Celtic boss said: "We have put ourselves back into fifth position. When you consider we are still there, despite a nine game league sequence without a win, that might tell you the season we were having before that.

"We know how difficult it is to break into the top four. We flirted with it for a couple of weeks this season and for the experience we can be stronger next year.

"But there is still stuff to play for this season. We want to try and surpass the number of points we ended up with last season - 60 - and try and finish in a higher position than 12 months ago.

"I have never given up the feeling that we could win games. People said we had a couple of lucky victories before Christmas but fates have conspired against us in recent times.

"That win (against Hull) will give us that extra confidence because, regardless of what you say, if you are not winning games, confidence becomes very brittle at times - and getting over the winning line is what it is all about."

O'Neill remains optimistic that midfielder Stiliyan Petrov will eventually sign a new contract.

He said: "We have said all along that we want Stiliyan to stay and we are making really good progress.

"I have been delighted with him this season and he was determined to show people the real Stiliyan Petrov after a difficult start to his career at Villa."